The Bridge Bench series with B.C. Joshua

Ella Doran and Blake Carlson Joshua Unveil Collaborative Benches at Shoreditch Design Triangle

London, UK — Designer Ella Doran continues her creative partnership with Blake Carlson Joshua, unveiling a new collaborative project for this year’s Shoreditch Design Triangle.

The collaboration was first conceived in 2022, when the pair met at the inaugural Material Matters show, where both were exhibiting. Bonding over their unconventional and innovative use of “waste” materials, they set out to create a project that reimagines discarded objects with fresh purpose.

That vision has now materialised in the co-creation of two unique benches, which will be showcased at the House of Icon, Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT.

Bridge Bench Multi Colour

Dimensions: L 1860mm × W 550mm × H 460mm
Materials: Salvaged Iroko wood, waste paint, paper, gypsum

This bench extends the legacy of Doran’s celebrated Paint Drop project. Responding to the horizontal nature of the piece, she chose to pour and drop waste paint from both sides of the reclaimed Iroko wood. The resulting surface balances an uplifting colour palette with Blake’s, handcrafted paper stones placed at either end, uniting texture, materiality, and colour.

Bridge Bench II

Dimensions: L 1860mm × W 550mm × H 460mm
Materials: Solid floor wood boards, plywood, salvaged brass, paper (including shredded paperwork from Solid Floors’ office), gypsum

For this piece, Doran chose to preserve the original painted white and burnt finish of the Solid Floor wood boards. Instead of removing a groove in the second plank, she serendipitously filled it with a salvaged piece of brass that fits seamlessly. Blake C. Joshua has crafted the paper stones moulded around salvaged fence posts, using shredded office paperwork. The bench is finished with layers of multi-coloured waste paint poured and dropped by Doran, adding vibrancy and depth.

Exhibition Details:

Shoreditch Design Triangle The House of Icon open 16th, 17th and 18th September 2025. Full details here.